Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his family and Sahabah (Companions).
Some newspapers have published articles on reviving and paying attention to monuments, written by some authors, including Professor Salih Muhammad Jamal. These articles have been responded to by His Eminence, Shaykh `Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Humayd. He efficiently and instructively answered to the claims included therein, may Allah reward him. However, Professor Anwar Abu AlJadayel, may Allah guide and inspire him with the right, was not satisfied with that reply or had not seen it, and therefore he wrote an article on the subject, published by the 'Madinah' newspaper, issue number 5448, dated 22/4/1402 A.H. In this article which is entitled "The way of the two Hijrahs [a believer's migration to an Islamic land]", he stated, "This is a review of the word published in the 'Madinah' newspaper, issue 5433, on 7/4/1402 A.H., by Professor `Abdul Quddus AlAnsary, as a commentary on what was done by the researcher and man of letters, Professor `Abdul `Aziz AlRifa`y, of investigation of the sites which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed through on his Hijrah from Makkah to AlMadinah AlMunawwarah. It urges us to stimulate officials to set signs indicating such posts, like for example two lower tents as near as possible to the two tents of Um Ma`bad with whatever else is suitable for the rest of posts, after taking the necessary precautions to prevent any transgression that could impart to them the tinge of sanctity or glory, and any deviation from the requirements of Shari`ah. For, the aim is to inform students, researchers and tourists who want to know about this path and these posts, to perceive what the Messenger (peace be upon him) went through during this secret and covert trip
of difficulties. This is meant only to give lesson and example and inure people endure hardships in Da`wah (calling people to Allah), following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). However, side roads should be built and paved, off the main roads, with rest houses for the tourists, making it easier for people to enter places where the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed, starting with the cave of Hira', then Thawr, and the place where the Prophet was pursued by Suraqah ibn Malik, until we reach Quba'. This should also include the preceding sites in Makkah AlMukarramah, such as Dar AlArqam bin Abu AlArqam, the pass where he and his family were boycotted, the pathway he assumed during the Conquest of Makkah, and then his places he stopped at in AlAbtah, and also in AlHudaybiyyah, Hunayn, and Badr. This also applies to sites he stopped at in AlMadinah AlMunawwarah, the battlefields of the conquests, and his places of presence in its rural areas, then his (peace be upon him) path to Khaybar, and to Tabuk. This is thus meant to provide people with more information about his unique efforts in spreading the Islamic Da`wah, and to teach them to follow the Prophet's example in that regard. [End of quote]
Likewise, Dr. Faruq Akhdar recommended in his article, published in AlJazirah newspaper, issue number 3354, dated 13/1/1402 A.H., the development of archaeological sites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the Muslims on a continuing basis, to ensure income; as he alleged that petrol reserves would run out. Maintaining his viewpoint, he stated "that Christian religious tourism in the Vatican is one of the main sources of income in Italian economy, and that Israel sold empty bottles to the Jews in America, under the claim that such bottles were full of holy air from Al Quds". He also pointed out that among the benefits this will bring about is that it will involve "Engrave knowledge about Islam the minds of Muslim children, etc.".
Due to what reviving religious monuments leads to with regard to threats to the `Aqidah (creed), I wanted to clarify the truth and corroborate the writings of scholars on this issue, cooperate with those scholars in righteousness and Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared), advise people for the sake of Allah, expose suspicious points, and illustrate supporting evidence. Hence, I would like to say that,
Taking care of monuments in the way mentioned above would lead to Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah; may He be Exalted). This is because people's souls are weak and are bred to cling to that which it deems is be of benefit to them. Besides, there are many types of Shirk, which are imperceptible for most people. Hence, those who stop at these monuments whether they are real or fake monuments will realize that ignorant people wipe themselves with the dirt of these places, and with the trees and stones therein. Those ignorant people also pray there and invoke those to whom the sites are attributed, thinking that this is a means of getting closer to Allah (Exalted be He), attaining Shafa`ah (intercession), and having theirs distresses relieved. Such an ignorancebased approach is maintained by misleading callers whose souls are impregnated with idolatry, and who exploit these monuments to misguide people and encourage them to visit these monuments in order to acquire some financial gains. Unfortunately, there is no one at these monuments to inform people that they are meant only for people to derive an example. Rather, the opposite usually takes place. This is evident to the wise people in some countries that are afflicted with the obsessive attachment to shrines, where people are accustomed to worshipping them besides Allah, and circumambulating them in the same way Muslims circumambulate the Ka`bah, on the pretext that people